Fancy Fuzzbox - 1972

Discussion regarding early stompbox technology: 1960-1975 Please keep discussion focused and contribute what info you have...
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LucifersTrip
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Completed builds: Mosrite Fuzzrite (Si), Mosrite Fuzzrite (Ge)[2], Get Lo-Fi Fuzz, Fuzz Face (Ge) [2], Fuzz Face (Si) [3], Mos-Face, Vox Tone Bender, Kay Tremolo, Os Mutantes Fuzz [2], Psychedelic Fuzz, Smokey Amp, Sunn Buzz, Jen Fuzz, Fancy Fuzzbox, Muff Fuzz (op amp) [2], Buzz Box, Fuzz King, Rangemaster [5], Maestro FZ - 2/3, Ruby Amp, Orpheum Fuzz (Ge) [4], Great Destroyer, Schizo, Carlsbro Suzz, Shin-Ei Companion Fuzz (si), DOD 250 Gray [2], Super Dirt Fuzz, Fuzz Factory, Jordan Boss Tone, Sam Ash Fuzzz Boxx, Heathkit TA-28 Fuzz, Olson New Sound Fuzz, LRE Fuzz Sound, Green Ringer, Vox Super Beatle (Ge), Colorsound One Knob (Ge), Demon Buzzz [2], Demon Wasp v1, Demon Wasp v2, Super Hard-On, Bazz Fuss, Burns Buzzaround [2], Selmer Buzztone, Shin-Ei Companion Fuzz (Ge), Fuzz Face/FY-2 (Ge), Zonk Machine, Univox Squarewave, Demon Fuzzz, Mosrite Fuzzrite BG-500/1000 (Ge), Univox Superfuzz, Marshall Supa Fuzz, Demon Monster, AA Overdrive/ Retro Fuzz, Tone Bender MKII, Psychtar, Jordan Vica Vibe, etc...
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Post by LucifersTrip »

I thought I'd throw this up since I didn't get any hits here and I finally found the zine ("101 Electronic Projects") it's in. This thing was included in the 1972 edition, the 1973 edition and the 1974 edition (slightly renamed "Fancy Guitar Fuzzbox").
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It uses a couple germanium pnp's
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I "cleaned" up the schematic and breadboarded this a while ago
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It was cool, but I didn't spend enough time to get it to the point where it was worth boxing.

So, I breaded it again. I used some "standard" FZ-1A compatible transistors since it does resemble the 2nd and 3rd stages of that....used Q1 ~ 75 hfe, leak ~ 150uA and Q2 ~ 120 hfe, leak ~ 320uA

I got a good fuzz right off, though nothing like an FZ-1A. It's fatter and heavier. Q1C/Q2C voltages ~ -1.1V and -1.2V respectively.

A couple notes: definitely screw with different leakages in Q2. Just like many fuzzes with this structure, it's biased by leakage....and screw with the 1M on Q1 and 22K /10K on Q2 to tune it where you like it best.

The stock values gave me a good fuzz right off, but with slight gating and a swell. Increasing the 1M to 1.5M got rid of that, but also increases the bass response a bit. The 100K was too small of a "cutoff"...it's too dead there. I needed something in the 200K-300K range.

The 22K /10K on Q2 were pretty damn close, also. For example, I tuned the 22K by ear and got 28K for the best.

That was just my first shot. I'll definitely be experimenting with many other transistors and leakages, especially for Q2.

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